Often you see competitors riding with a coloured string at the end of the boom or in top of the sail... but why? Is it to distinguish the competitiors from each other or?

Roger

4th July 2007, 07:46 AM

Hi Guest,
The colored streamers on the end of the boom denote the class the sailor is in.
"A" fleet = one color.
Formula Fleet = another color
Sport Fleet = another color
Womens fleet often has a different color streamer, but they also have
a small logo on the sail (a yellow diamond shape).
So, the colored string or ribbons/streamers usually are there to distinguish (for those who do the timing and scoring) what fleet each sailor has registered for.

Here&#39;s an excerpt from the Int&#39;s Formula Windsurfing Rules about the marking for women&#39;s class sails:

"(c) A Women’s sail shall carry an equilateral diamond on both sides of the sail in the proximity of the head. The minimum length of each side shall be 150mm.

These "equilateral Diamond shapes" are normally yellow, but must be a contrasting color (for visibility at a distance) to the surrounding color of the sail.
Hope this helps,